In the interpretation of prophecy,
it is important that we should recognize
the perspective principle on
which it is based.

Several trees in the distance, in
the same direction, appear near to
each other, though quite a distance
apart.
The space between them becomes
apparent only as you approach
them.
The eye of the
prophet is permitted to see future
events on the same principle, and
though events may be centuries, or
even millenniums, apart, unless there
are prophetic periods given to locate
them, it is impossible for us to determine
how far apart they will be
in fulfillment.

Isa. 9:6,7, relating to the birth,
development, reign and final triumph
of our Lord, is a clear case of
the perspective.
Though written
nearly eight centuries before the birth
of Christ, the present tense is used:
"Unto us a child is born," &c., and
though the fulfillment requires ages,
the prophecy is but a few words,
without even a hint of the long time
required.

Another case in point, is the prophecy
of the work of Messiah. Isa. 61:1,3.
This work among other
things both before and after is: "To
proclaim the acceptable year of the
Lord,and the day of vengeance
of our God."
Christ himself "rightly
divided" this scripture, not reading
the latter part, because it was not yet
due, and of what he read, added:
"This day is this scripture fulfilled
in your ears." Luke 4:21.

The day of vengeance was an age in the future when he spoke.

The coming of Christ is on the
same principle foretold as if it were
a single event.
The phrases "First
Advent" and "Second Advent" are
not scriptural.
And though we do
not object to their use, and will use
them by way of accommodation, we
nevertheless believe that the impression
made is often anti- scriptural.
Our aim is to remove misapprehensions
as far as possible.
We believe
that the coming of Christ is properly one great and comprehensive manifestation;
but that the process includes
several lesser comings or
manifestations as parts or stages of
the whole.
This fact was made the
stone of stumbling to the Jew, and it
probably will prove to be such to
many Christians.

That the prophecies of Christ's
glory and kingdom were not fulfilled
when he came in the flesh, is
true, and as that was what the Jew
had in mind, he failed to see the
sufferings of Christ (Isa. 53), and so
he was rejected by them.
It seems
strange that any now should claim
that in his incarnation and humiliation
he came as "The Desire of all
nations," in face of the fact that he
did not come to any but one nation.

The limited commission: "Go
not in the way of the Gentiles,"
found its sanction in Christ's own
words: "For I am not sent but to
the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Will any one in the face of this say
he came then to all nations?
The
first thing Christ did for the world was
to die for them and that not until he
had given up the nation to whom
he was sent.
He was not desired
even by that nation.
He was "as
a root out of dry ground; he hath
no form nor comeliness; and when
we shall see him, no beauty that weshould desire him. He is despised
and rejected of men," &c.
No clearer
pen picture could have been given,
than Isa. 53, of the estimate his
nation placed on him and the manner
in which they treated him.
"He
came unto his own and his own
received him not."
"The foxes have
holes and birds of the air have nests
but the Son of Man hath not where
to lay his head."
"We will not
have this man to rule over us."
"We have no king but Caesar."
"Away with him; crucify him."
These and many other facts prove
conclusively that Christ in the flesh
was not the Desire of any nation.

It is evident that the shaking of
the nations and the overthrow of kingdoms referred to in our text and
context are to precede his coming as
the Desire of all Nations.
Therefore
Paul's reference to the language
and his location of it in the future
in his day (Heb. 12:26-7), confirm
our conclusion that this scripture
was not fulfilled at what we familiarly
call "The First Advent."
Then will it be fulfilled when he
appears the "Second time?"
Perhaps
nearly all would answer, "Certainly."
But we are compelled to
think differently. Heb. 9:29, is,
we believe, the only place in the
bible where the word second occurs
in connection with Christ's coming.
And certainly nothing in this makes
it impossible that other comings
should follow.
Mark, we do not
affirm that what is here called the second is not elsewhere referred to,
but that when the coming is referred
to, it does not always refer to
the second.
We wish to be distinctly
understood as claiming that
some of the prophecies of Christ's
coming will be fulfilled after he has
appeared the second time.

Our question is, Is he the Desire
of all nations at the second appearing?
If not, there will be another
coming, for God's word will be fulfilled.
Paul's statement is: "Tothem that look for him will he appear
the second time."
Do the nations
look for him?
Do they desire him?
No.
Not even the professed church desire his coming.
They say they
love him, but do not want him to
come "in our day." They say they
care not if he comes not for "ten
thousand years," or even if he never comes, for they expect to die and go to him; but they DO NOT WANT TO
GO?
God has given us the love of
life, and the instincts of men are
often better than their theology.
Brethren, you ought to know that
you can not be with him till he
comes.
He said, "I will come
again and receive you to myself."
At his coming the dead in Christ
rise and the living are changed
and caught away to meet the Lord
in the air, and so shall we ever be
with the Lord.
Comforting words! 1 Thess. 4:13-18.
These are doubtless
in reference to his second coming, [R60 : page 6] because it is to them that look
for him.
There is a company who
want him to come.
The little flock,
the chaste virgin espoused, want to
see the Bridegroom.
They love his
appearing, and Paul says that allsuch, as well as himself, will receive
a crown of righteousness in that
day. 2 Tim. 4:8.
There is no
promise that he will come to them
that do not look for, or who do not love his appearing.
And there is
no promise that any mortal eye will
see him at his second coming.
Those to whom he then appears
are to be changed, made like him,
and shall see him as he is.

"Behold he cometh with clouds
and every eye shall see him," is a
sample of passages often quoted
against our position.
But this is
one of the evidences of our position.
The nature of events prove that the
"coming with clouds" is not the second coming.
He will come in all
his glory, and in his kingdom, but
not until after the saints are with him. When he thus appears to the world,
to men in the flesh, to "every eye,"
the saints are with him.
This is
represented by a beautiful picture
of the grand manifestation, on the
mount of transfiguration.
Moses
and Elias appear with him in glory.
Brethren, do not confound this
grand event with a previous one of
his coming to raise the dead.
Three
comes after two, just as certainly as
two comes after one.
The same
truth is stated by Paul.
"When he
shall appear we also shall appear
with him in glory."
What is true
of the Head is true of the Body.
It
is called "the manifestation of the sons of God." Rom. 8:19.

God made the creature subject to
vanity but in hope.Ver. 20.
And
it is declared that the groaning creation
"itself also (as well as the
church who had the first fruits of the
spirit) shall be delivered from the
bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the children of
God." Ver. 21.

It is claimed by some that this
manifestation is but a later stage of
the "Second Advent" than his coming for his saints.
To this idea we
would not object so much, for the order of events being admitted,
would prevent the blinding effect of
the popular view of expecting him
to come for them and come with
them and do a dozen other things
"in a moment" as it were, and
without any order.
But we are convinced
that as his coming in the
flesh was to the fleshly house of
Israel, and only those knew it who
were in the light.
So his second
coming is to the church, "to them
that look for him" and the world
will know nothing about it until it
is past.
That the second advent has
its different stages and covers a considerable
period of time, as well as
the first advent we fully believe.
Just as surely as the High Priests
coming out was a work of time and
had its stages, so surely our High
Priest will fulfill them for not a jot or tittle can pass unfulfilled.
The
first step in type was to leave the
most holy, then he tarried in the
holy place to cleanse it before coming
to the people, and when he had
done all, it was to them that waited
for him he came.
This too is the
very subject under consideration by
Paul when he says: "Asand so
...to them that look for him will
he appear the second time."
His
coming does not always refer to
coming from Heaven, but is a manifestation,
or it may be taking or
coming into a new position or
relationship.

As a babe he came at his birth.
He had come, but he had not come
fully, i.e. all the steps had not been
taken.
So John preached "before
his coming." Acts 13:24.
John
says, "there cometh one after me"
and again "that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I
come baptizing with water." John 1:31.
So Jesus was manifested as
the Christ i.e. Anointed, by being
anointed with water and that which
it representedthe Holy Spirit.

He then entered on the harvest
work, but not until three and one-half
years later did he fulfill the
prophecy, "Behold thy King cometh." First the birth, then the anointing,
and last the manifestation as their
King; but these were none of them
coming from heaven.
His return
from heaven is a coming, but every
coming is not a return, at the second,
any more than at the first.
That
Christ will have come as a kingi.e.,
have entered upon the office of
kingeven before the living church are translated, is evident from the
parable of the King inspecting the
guests before the marriage.
"And
when he had returned, having received
the kingdom," &c. Luke 19:15.
Then follow the inspection
of all the servants and the reward
of the faithful.
The President
must be inaugurated in his office
before he can properly appoint his
Cabinet; So Christ has his official
honor conferred before he can share
it with others.
And be it remembered
that his saints are in office as
ruling princes, before the kingdoms
are cast down.
The Kingdom of
God is set up before the kingdoms of
earth fall, for it shall break in pieces
and consume all these kingdoms. Dan. 2:44.
"This honor have all
the saints." (Ps. 149.)
This overthrow
of the kingdoms by the strong
hand of judgment, is what will
break the proud spirit of the nations:
"For when his judgments
are in the earth the inhabitants of
the world will learn righteousness." Isa. 26:9.
Together with these
judgments the everlasting gospel
will be preached: "Fear God and
give glory to him, for the hour of
his judgment is come." Rev. 14:
"And all nations shall come and
worship before thee, for thy judgments
are made manifest." 15:4.

Thus the great change will be
wrought, the proud spirit broken,
men feel their weakness, and the
"Desire of all nations will come."
The Royal Seed, both head and
body, having been exaltedChrist
first, to prepare a place in the Father's
house of many mansions; then
the saints, gone to be with him in
the house prepared: then will the
Lord behold the earth, looking
down from the height of his
sanctuary, and hearing the groaning
of the prisoner, deliverancewill come. "When the people are
gathered together and the kingdoms
to serve the Lord." Ps. 102:19-22.
Thus in due time, though it has not
been at any time in the past, Christ
will be the consolation of all nations.